Best New Tracks: J. Cole, SZA, Smino and More
Dive into the weekend with these music projects.
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As the week in music comes to a close, Hypebeast has rounded up the best projects for the latest installment of Best New Tracks.
This week’s lineup is led by J. Cole, SZA and Smino, who dropped the preview of a track via a vlog entitled “Might Delete Later, Vol. 1,” “Saturn” and “TBA.” Also joining this selection are offerings from Khruangbin, EARTHGANG, Free Nationals with Anderson .Paak and A$AP Rocky, Strick with Young Thug and James Blake, SiR with Isaiah Rashad, MGMT, Bu Cuaron and Erick the Architect.
J. Cole – “Might Delete Later, Vol. 1”
J. Cole continues to tease his upcoming album The Fall Off with the preview of a song in a vlog entitled Might Delete Later Vol. 1. The cut is sandwiched in the middle of the nine-minute vlog that sees Cole and Drake’s ongoing tour, as well his studio sessions with the likes of Tay Keith and link ups with Lil Durk.
Listen: YouTube
SZA – “Saturn”
SZA officially releases “Saturn” after debuting the track live at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards. The single arrives as a five-track audio bundle which includes a main, live, sped-up, acappella and instrumental versions. Written and produced by SZA, Carter Lang, Rob Bisel, Solomonophonic and Monsune, “Saturn” hears the TDE staple in a moment of self-awareness as she contemplates whether there is more to this life.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Khruangbin – “May Ninth”
Khruangbin preps for the release of A LA SALA, their first LP in four years, with the single “May Ninth.” The single follows “A Love International” and both cuts are set to join the record which drops April 5 via Dead Oceans.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
SiR x Isaiah Rashad – “Karma”
SiR announces his his newest album Heavy, out March 22, with the single “Karma.” Joining forces with his fellow TDE heavyweight Isaiah Rashad, the track features the mantra of “Karma coming” and arrives with an accompanying music video helmed by Loris Russier.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Free Nationals x Anderson .Paak x A$AP Rocky – “Gangsta”
Free Nationals drop their first lead single since 2019 via “Gangsta,” enlisting A$AP Rocky and longtime friend and collaborator Anderson .Paak. The track opens with .Paak’s melodic singing followed by a verse from Rocky — both of which glide over a smooth rhythm delivered by Free Nationals.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
EARTHGANG - Robophobia
EARTHGANG delivers the second project in their EARTHGANG vs the Algorithm series, Robophobia. Picking up right where RIP Human Art left off, the five-track project features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Spillage Village and Tommy Newport.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Strick x Young Thug x James Blake – “Kisses Make Sure”
Strick enlists Young Thug and James Blake on “Kisses Make Sure.” This cut mark the YSL artist’s first release of the year, and follows 2023’s “Neat Freak.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Erick The Architect - I’ve Never Been Here Before
Erick the Architect unveils his debut solo effort, I’ve Never Been Here Before. The 16-track album explores themes of fearlessness, Black resilience, beauty in darkness and unity and features contributions from Joey Bada$$, Westside Boogie, George Clinton, Channel Tres, Kimbra, Lalah Hathaway, RÜDE CÅT, Boy Boy, Pale Jay, FARR, James Blake, Linden Jay and T Minus.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
MGMT - Loss of Life
MGMT releases their sixth studio album Loss of Life, which follows 2018’s Little Dark Age. Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser co-produced the 10-track effort with Patrick Wimberly, and enlists Christine and the Queens on “Dancing in Babylon” — marking the first time a guest feature is included in an MGMT album.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Bu Cuaron - ”ViceVersa”
Rising star Bu Cuaron debuts “ViceVersa,” the first track off her upcomign debut EP Drop By When You Drop Dead. The Italian-Mexican artist draws inspiration from the natural world for the melodically rich cut, and releases a self-directed music video.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
